Sound-modifying device for phonographs



1 R. PARRISH.

' SOUND MODIFYING DEVICE FOR PHONOGR'APHS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1921.

1,40 ,0 Patented Feb. 7; 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- Fla? 1 J Parrish.

IIIVENTOR A TTORKE Y8 J.'R. PARRISH.

SOUND MODI FYING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, I921.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. PARRISH, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SOUND-MODIFYING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

T 0 all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JAMES R. PARRISH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound- Modifying Devices for. 'Phonographs, of which the following is a'specification.

yThis invention relates to; a sound modi fying device for phonographs.

-The object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which may be easily and expeditiously attached to the needle holder of a phonograph without changing the construction thereof, and when attached, adapted to, soften and lower the volume of sound waves produced by the phonograph Y It is also an object of the invention that the device be adapted to in no way impair the clearness of the musical, sounds produced by the phonograph with whi ch itrmaym-be associated. 7

Other objects and objects relating to details of construction, combination and a r rangement of parts will hereinafter more fully appear in the description to follow.

The invention is illustrated byway of example in the accompanying drawings, in

which: t Figure 1 is a graph diaphragm casing and associated parts and illustrating my invention. when applied to theneedle holder, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device, Figure 3 is a longitudinal transverse section of the same, V

Figures i 'a lower end view of the same,

Figure 5 is an upper end view of the same,

Figure 6 is an upperface view of the same,

and particularly illustrating the angular disposal of the stem for connecting the at tachment to'the needle holder of a phono graph, 7.

'Figure 7 is a plan view illustratingthe disposal of the device when held by the needle holder of a phonograph, and

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing a different angular disposal of the stem.

Referring to the drawingsin detail, and

particularly to Figures 1 to .7, 10 indicates a 7 tone arm, 11 a diaphragm housing, 12 a stylus which termmatesat its lower end in detail elevation of phono-' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb; 7, 1922.

Application filed May 3, 1921. Serial No. 466,392. l

the usual phonograph needle holder 13. Also at 14 is shown the usual set screw for clamping the phonograph needle. At 15 is indicated the usual turn table which supthe usual needle holder of phonographs.

This stem terminates in an enlarged portion 19,.w'h1'ch issenn-clrcular in cross section andthe peripheral surface of which 1s enlargement. The member A is preferably of theshape shown, and-adapted to be. fitted against the flat side of the portion 19 and form therewith a peripheral surface which is-oblong in'cross section. I

The member A is also slightly longer than the memberBand its forward end extending from the member'B, as shown. The extendedend isformed with an enlargement 22, the inner edge of which is inr alinement With the corresponding bead 20 ofthemem;

formedwith a head .20 at each end of the v berB. I Also the member A is formed with akbead- 23 on its opposite end, which is in register or inalinernent with the correspond ingbead 20 ofthe member B. The member A is further formed with a longitudinal bore .24; which ."is adapted to accommodate thelarger end-of a phonograph needle. A threaded opening 25 is provided centrally of the enlargement 22 andada-pted for receiving the set screw 26 by which a needle placed within the bore 24 may be clamped;

' Between the members A and B there is interposed a strip ofrubber 27, said strip having the greater portion ofits lower side surface offset and said offset portion adapted to accommodate a strip of felting 28, the felting being of the same width as the rubber'strip 27. The members A and B are preferably secured together by wrapping a silk thread about the combined peripheral surfaces as indicated at 29, or by a rubber sleeve as shown in Figures 2 and 8, the thread wrapping being preferable.

' Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the stem 18 isdisposed at a 'slight angle with respect to a vertical plane passing through the members A and B, said plane being indicated by the dottedline 31. The

object of this angular disposal of the arm' 18 will be later made evident.

In the use of the present device, the stem 18 is positioned in the needle holder 13 and clamped by the means of a screw 14. needle 32 is then positioned in the bore 24 of the member A and secured against re- 7 moval by the set screw 26. By referring to Figure 7, it will be observed that the point of a needle 32 will contact with the record 16 at a point 33, and it will also be observed that thereason for the needle point making contact at this particular point is due to the angular disposal of the stem 18 Should the stem 18 be straight then the point of contact of the needle 32 with the record would fall at the point 34 which is of a greater distance from the center of the rec- 0rd 16. Now assuming that the stem 18: instead of terminating in the portion 19 of the 1 member B that is terminated in a needle point as indicated in dotted lines in Figure .7. If such were the case then the point of this needle would contact with the record at the point 35. It should now be observed that theqpoints and 33 are of equal distance from the spindle 17 or center of the record 16. i It therefore becomes obvious that by the angular disposal of the stem 18 the point 32 will be caused to engage with the same tangent relation with the grooves of the record, as Would the point of a needle when held by the needleholder 13.

It is believed from the foregoing descrip{ tion that the operation of the present de-- vice is clearly obvious.

The purpose of the rubber strip 27 and felting 28 is to reduce thevibrations transmitted from the needle 32 to the stylus 12. That is, by the use of my device, thevibrations transmitted to the stylus 12 will be perceptibly less than if the phonograph needle was directly connected tothe phonograph holder 13. It may also be pointed out that the clearness of tone will inno Way be impaired, and likewise to a oer tain extent the scratching noise of the needle I will be reduced. v

Referring to Figure 8, it will be observed that the stem 18 is bent downwardly with I respect to ahorizontal plane passing cen;

trally of the members A and B; By such a construction the inclination of the needle 32- A. with respect to the record 16 may be increased, that is, may be inclined toward thevertical. I have found by experiment that when this inclination is increased that the sharpness of the tone produced will likewise be increased and hence the reason forfthis construction. It is'to be understood however that this' is merely a modified form of my invention, and "that the construction as set out inFigures 1 to 7i'nclusive isthe preferred one I 7 While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that I am aware of thefact that the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be 'changed by those skilled in the art without'departing from the spirit of my invention, as indicated by the appended claims. 7

I claim 1. Asou'nd modifying device for phonegraphs, comprising a needle holder, a stem, a non-metallic material interposed between said stem and needle holder, and non-me.

tallic meansfor binding the needle holder andfstem together.

' 2. A sound modifying device'for phone v V I graphs, comprisinga needle holder, a stem, a non-metallic material interposed between holder and stem for securing the same to t'h r JAMES R. rAniirsH. 

